Introduction to Psychology Chapter 3 section 2
What perspective does a type of psychologist take when they asset that psychological disorders like depression and schizophrenia are associates with imbalances in one or more neurotransmitter system?
A biological perspective.
What are agonists?
Agonists are chemicals that mimic a neurotransmitter at the receptor site and, thus, strengthen its effects.
What is an antagonist?
An antagonist, on the other hand, blocks or impedes the normal activity of a neurotransmitter at the receptor.
What is the resting potential?
Between signals, the neuron membrane's potential is held in a state of readiness, called the resting potential.
What is the purposes of the myelin sheath?
Coats the axon and acts as an insulator, increasing the speed at which the signal travels.
What do dendrites function as?
Dendrites serve as input sites where signals are received from other neurons.
What environment does a neuron live in?
Extracellular fluid and it contains intracellular fluid (i.e., cytoplasm). The fluid can be electrically different.
What is the function of glial cells?
Glial cells provide scaffolding on which the nervous system is built, help neurons line up closely with each other to allow neuronal communication, provide insulation to neurons, transport nutrients and waste products, and mediate immune responses.
What is the function of neurons?
Neurons serve as interconnected information processors that are essential for all of the tasks of the nervous system.
What do psychotropic medications do in people?
Psychotropic medications are drugs that treat psychiatric symptoms by restoring neurotransmitter balance.
What is the process of reuptake?
Reuptake involves the neurotransmitter being pumped back into the neuron that released it, in order to clear the synapse.
What is an all-or-non phenomenon for a neuron?
The action potential.
What is the action potential?
The electrical signal that typically moves from the cell body down the axon to the axon terminals.
What is the difference in charge across the membrane called?
The membrane potential, which, provides energy for the signal.
What else does a neuron do?
The neuron is a small information processor.
How does a neurotransmitter "know" which receptor to bind to?
The neurotransmitter and the receptor have what is referred to as a lock-and-key relationship—specific neurotransmitters fit specific receptors similar to how a key fits a lock. The neurotransmitter binds to any receptor that it fits.
Where would a signal transmitted electrically across the soma and down to a major extension called?
The soma known as the axon, which ends at multiple terminal buttons.
Where is the nucleus of the neuron located?
The soma, or cell body.
What do terminal buttons contain?
The terminal buttons contain synaptic vesicles.
If the internal charge of the cell reaches a certain level, what is this level called?
The threshold of excitation and the neuron becomes active and the action potential begins.
What happens to these excess neurotransmitters?
They are broken down into inactive fragments, or are reabsorbed in a process known as reuptake.
The soma has branching extensions, what are these extensions called?
They are called dendrites.
What do the synaptic vesicles house?
They house neurotransmitters, the chemical messengers of the nervous system.
Where would neurotransmitters travel after being released into a synapse?
They travel across the small space and bind with corresponding receptors on the dendrite of an adjacent neuron.
What is the nervous system composed of?
Two basic cell types: glial cells and neurons.
What is neuronal communication referred to as?
An electrochemical event.
What is a synapse?
The synapse is a very small space between two neurons and is an important site where communication between neurons occurs.
What does the semipermeable membrane from a neuron do?
This membrane allows smaller molecules and molecules without an electrical charge to pass through it, while stopping larger or highly charged molecules.
